Fluid pressure regulator



March 2, 1954 E. SCHUSTER FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR Filed June 11, 1948 mm RN NM mm M K MSQNNRN w M T 0 N a W A 2L H A MN M .2

nk Q ll- M mm mw wm Q wm mm SQ-NR NN (Ww w mm= w \i Patented Mar. 2, 1954 Erich s ci'i uster', Regulator Co torn-iii" e cane, assig'nor to Utility any, a cor oration Uf'C'ali- Alppl-icationiune l1, 1948, Serial 32521 c a m (Cl. 50-26) This invention relates to fluid pressure regulators, and particularly to a type or regulate: that is employed for" re ulating the delivery pressure of gas to a cjfns'umers service nfe. regulators of this t pe it'i's the function-of the regulator to supply thegas to the con umer in such quantities that th pressure of the gas at the point of consumption," for example; an oven or stove, will remain utstanuaiiy constant.

It has been 'bh gen fal practice'neretoior'e to maintain a pressure haber in which gas is maintained under pressure, and when a consumer commences to bilfl i' afl' i" aS'd qua tity-'01 gas, the pressure in this clia herinihiediately be comes reduced. P're controlled 'm'eafls in the chamber, which'ls r pc etc this reduct on in pressure, automatically controls a val I" is admitting gas to threg ulatoi and will inatically open thisv valv'to'dje'liizerah iiicr asd quantity of gast'o the consumer; 'Conv'ers i i the consumer suddenly reduces" the number of burners he is empioyingyaiegmator such a ierred to will automatically reduce the effective opening of the "regulator vai efso as to redi ce the quantity of gas flowing to thebu ers;

Heretoiore r gent-loner FY13? ated in such a way that as the gas flows. from regulator valve toward theoutlet' into the consuniers line, the outflow of the gas exerted acertain degree of entrainifng' actionto'withdraw gas from the pressure chamber referredtoi This mode of operationis' gen erallysatis'factory pressure regulators operating on relativelyl ow pressure, but undenccnditions where'the' inlet pressure into the regulator is relatively high, .the eduction effect or withdrawal effect of gal sfrj'om the pressure chamber is less reliable .in efiecti'ng control of the position of the pressure controlled member that in'iturn controls the" amount of opening of the regulator v alve.-

One of the objects ofthis invention is to. provide a regulator of this type 'th features of construction which will greatly rease therange of inlet pressure th- ,ough which the regulator can operate satisfactorily,

In regulators oi thisatype it is common practice to have the inlet orifice emerge upon a valve seat, or seat-iace ,-ol li 1 s tetowhich a ,valvehead movr u a he n e-P e i is a e-h ad is automatically r. ulated through the agency of a pressure charnloerI After e gas' passes regulator valve, it passes of the gas at the delivery outlet oi the regulator is immediately occasioned, and this develops a tendency for the gas issuing through the regulator valve to develop a condition known to users of gas aschanneling; that is tosay', there is a. tendency for the gas issuing from the valve'to fi'ojw directly toward the outlet; one of the objects Of this invention is to provide means for preventing this channeling eiiect' which is undesirable, and to provide means for substantially preventing it. This is particularly desirable whenthe regulator operates under relatively high inlet pressures. v 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a regulator of this type"; with a plenum chamber into which the fluid or gas is delivered within'the regulator, and from which the gas flows toward the delivery outlet of the regulator, my general purpose being to provide a regulator in the mode of operation of which the regulator will respond promptly but steadily and without fluctuation, to sudden changes in the amount of gas required by the consumer.

In regulators of this type the valve head referred to above is; usually mounted on the end of a stem, and the shifting of this stem controlsthe effective area of flow for the gas at the inlet ori fic'c. These valve'heads must be inspected from time to time to ascertain whether they are in good condition. As there is practically little or no clearance between the valve head and the valve seat, which is usually formed on the end of a nipple, it is usually necessary to remove the nipple that carries the valve seat,- and also an access plug that is located behind the nipple. And after this has been done, it is difiicultto reach and remove the valve head from the valve stem, .to make a close inspectionoi it.

This invention adapts itself readily to the provision of a mounting for the valve" head on the stem that will enable the valvelhead to be placed on the stemby a lateral movement toward the stem-.- By employing such a connection it isonly necessary to remove a single access plug located at the side of the casing'in order to gainaccess to the valve head, and remove it for inspection, and for replacement-if that-is necessary.

Further objects: of the invention wil1 appear hereinafter.

The invention consistsin the novel parts and combinations of partsto be described hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an efiioient fluid pressure regulator;

' A preferred embodiment of the invention" is described in the following specification, while the 3 broad scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a fluid regulator embodying my invention, certain parts being broken away, and other parts shown partially in section and partially in elevation.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, passing through the end portion of the stem that carries the removable valve head or closure, and particularly illustrating details of a disconnectible connection that I prefer to employ for mounting the valve head on its stem.

Fig. 2a is an elevation of the forward end of the valve head taken about in the plane of the line 2a-2a of Fig. 1. This view also shows the walls of the plenum chamber in section, as in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the forward end of the valve stem, and through the valve head, taken about on the line 33 of Fig. 2a. This view is upon a larger scale than Fig. 2a, and further illustrates the means for mounting the valve head on its stem. The stem is shown partially in elevation and broken away.

Fig. 4 is a horizontalsection taken about on the line 44 of Fig. 3 looking upwardly. This section, however, passes through the end of the stem, and the view shows a portion the shank for holding the valve head broken away and partially in section.

Referring more particularly to the parts, in practicing the invention I employ a regulator case or casing l which is formed as a casting having a substantially cylindrical body 2 with an extension 3 projecting from its side. The fluid to be regulated is admitted into the interior of the extension 3 through an inlet 6 which is threaded to facilitate connecting an inlet pipe to the same. Through this inlet the fluid flows into a relatively large duct 5 which has an extension 6 that extends up into the outer end of the extension 3 so as to admit the fluid through a valve port or inlet 7. This valve port is usually carried at the forward end of a removable nipple 8, the body of which is mounted in a thread connection 9 in one of the V walls of the walled plenum chamber in into which the fluid such as illuminating gas flows from the valve inlet 5.

In order to regulate the flow of the gas through this port 7, I prefer to employ a valve head or valve closure H which has an annular body that carries a gasket or plug l2 preferably of rubber, fiber, or other suitable material, The body of this plug is of course of circular form to fit into the bore of the annular valve head, and it has an enlarged head I3 at its forward end that fits into a small counterbore I4 in the forward face of the valve head.

The means for mounting this valve head on the valve stem l5 will be described more fully her inafter. chamber or valve chest H] which is completely walled in on all sides except for an outlet or outlet orifice !5 at its upper wall, that is preferably substantially in line with the delivery outlet i? outlet is usually threaded as shown, to facilitate the attachment of the consumers pipe line to it.

The space above the upper wall is of the plenum chamber is an extension of an antechamber IS, the main portion of which is located at Reference is now had to the plenum .65 for the gas that flows from the regulator. This 4 the regulator, and with which it communicates through an orifice 23.

The valve stem I5 is guided through guide openings 24 and 25 formed in the walls 20 and 2|, and its inner end that extends into the interior of the pressure chamber 22, is connected to linkage that is connected to pressure responsive means, the movements of which are controlled and affected by the pressure existing in the pressure chamber 22. Any suitable pressure controlled member the area of which is exposed to the chamber pressure, may be employed. In the present instance the drawing illustrates a common type of diaphragm 26, which is of circular form with its edge overlying the flange 2! of the cylindrical body 2 of the regulator. The bonnet 23 of the regulator seats over the diaphragm and its flange 29 is secured to the flange 27 by spaced bolts or machine screws such as the machine screw illustrated at 30.

The bonnet 28 is of the usual inverted dish form so as to form a chamber 3! which, in practice, carries a fluid the pressure of which partially balances the fluid pressure in the pressure chamber 22. When this regulator is used for industrial purposes, pressure in this chamber 3! can be developed by means of fluid carried in a fluid system and maintained at any desired pressure. However, when this invention is employed in the construction of an ordinary gas regulator to control delivery of gas to a consumer, this chamber 3| is merely an air chamber connected by a vent 32 to the atmosphere. This vent 32 preferably communicates with the atmosphere through a screen chamber 33 provided with a screen 34 to prevent insects or other foreign bodies from passing down through the vent 32. This screen chamber 33 is closed above by a removable plug 35 that is mounted in a threaded socket formed in a boss 36 projecting upwardly from the cover wall 3'! of the bonnet. Plug 35 is vented to atmosphere, but substantially weatherproof.

The outward or upward movement of the diaphragm 26 that woul be occasioned by an increase of pressure in the pressure chamber 22 is yieldingly resisted by means such as the usual coil spring 38, the upper end of which extends up into a spring chamber 39 in the threaded-bore of a tubular neck 40 that is preferably cast integrally with the body of the bonnet 28. The lower end of this spring thrusts against the upper washer 4| attached to the upper side of the diaphragm, and the upper end thrusts against an adjustable screw plug 42 that is threaded into the threads 43 of the inner face of the wall of the neck 40. This screw plug 42 may have a screwdriver slot 44 for rotating it in either direction to increase or decrease the degree of compression of the spring 38. Access is had to the plug 42 by removing a screw cap .45 that is threaded into the upper end of the neck 40.

Any suitable linkage means may be employed for imparting movements of the diaphragm 2G to the stem [5 to cause the forward face of the valve plug l2 to approach or recede from the fiat seat face 46 through which the inlet orifice of the valve emerges.

In order to effect a connection from the diaphragm to the linkage that effect shifting of the valve stem 15, a lower washer 4'! is provided, located concentrically with the diaphragm and the upperv washer 41. The washers 4| and 4'1 are preferably formed of metal, and are of dish form, the upper washer 4| being formed with an; upwardly inclined flange 4.8; while the flange 49 of the lower washer is inclined downwardly. The diaphragm 26 maybe made of any material usually employed in regulators: of kind, and in making the connection to the linkage, a pivotbolt 59' is provided that. extends up from below through the two washers 41. and 4|, and the diaphragm, the upper end of the. bolt, being threaded. to receive a. nut 5t that clampsthese. parts together. This connection preferably in-- cludes a cushion washer 52 of the same material as. the diaphragm 26-.v

The pivot bolt. 50 is formed with: an enlarged head 53 at its lower end, that is provided withtwo slots such as the slot 54-, to. receive: them;- per ends or two short links. 55 that. are attached to the pivot bolt 50 by a horizontal cross pin or rivet 56-. These links extend. down alongside of eachother, and the space between them. receives. the forward end of the fulcrum lever 56 to which they arev pivotally attached by a cross pin or rivet 51. The fulcrum. lever 56. is. anchored. on ahorizontally disposed pivotpin 58 that is supported; as illustrated at 59, on the side wall of a bottom. extension 60 that is or channel form, to house the fulcrum lever 56., and. the other parts of the linkage. The. fulcrum. lever is ofsubstantially triangular form inside elevation,. and at its lower angle or. inverted apex 6| it is attached by a. transverse pivot pin. 62 to a pair of links 63 that extend over. to. the opposite sides of the valve stem 15 to which they are attached by a cross pin or a pivot 64..

The employment of a plenum chamber it such as I have described and-illustrated, increases the efficiency of performance; of regulators of this type, and greatly increases the. range ofv inlet pressures with which it can. function satisfactorily to pass the gas. in sufficient, quantity. and at the proper rate of. flow to. supply varying. requirements of the. consumer. The. efficient op:- eration of the plenum. chamber under higher pressures is augmentedbyproviding means with.- in it. for baiiling; direct flowf-rom the inlet. orifice 1. of the valve throughftheoutlet. orifice I36. In order to accomplish this, I providexbaflle. means between the inlet 1 and the. outlet orifice; 15:, preferably consisting; of-,, or including. a. project.- ing lip or bafiie 65-. This, lip.- as illustrated in Fig. 2a, is of arcuateform to conform tcrthape riphery ofv the valve head-,,anditproj,ects;forward pastthe seat facedliof .the valve nipple-8. When gas. flows. from the inlet orifice or: valve: port '1. against the forward faceof; the plugv I2,.iti-of course is deflected. by the plug: so that itxflowsxin a, plane substantially at right anglesto the axis of the valve head radially on. the; forward face of.- the-plug. The portion of this gas-current that flows upwardly will be deflected; laterally asindicated by. the arrows in- Fig. 2a,; At. the same time thegas that flows in under this lip becomes denser, and due tothis and its rebounding: effect from. impinging upon theunder side: of the lip;

returns downwardly within the plenum: chamber 7 H). In this way: I preventiflow of an excessive quantity of gas upwardly from. the inlet 1, and this. insure that. the radial flow of gas between the seat face 46 and the forwardfaceof the plug It? is, more uniformly distributed While. this lip 65. isnot'. an. essential feature when this. regulater is operating on relatively low. inlet pressures, it is a desirablefeature when the regulator is. receiving. its gas supply at. a. relatively high pressure. In this connection 1 have found, in practice that this regulator having this plenum chamber and baille means can operate efiiciently with inlet gas pressures ranging from one to seventy fi-ve pounds per square There is of course some turbulence occasioned in; the gas withinthe plenum chamber, in addition tothe eiitect or, preventing channeling. oi the inflow stream from the inlet orifice 1 directly tothe outlet orifice. 1610f the plenum chamber.-

I shall. now describe thedisconnectible. mounting: for the valve head on its; stem l5. Reterring. particularly to Figs. 2 to a inclusive in con-junction withFig. 1,. the valve head H as stated. is of substantially circular forms Therear wall 65 of the valve head (see Figs. 3 and 4) is provided with a shank 61 at itsrear face which may be formed integrally with the bottorrr wall as shown in. 3. The outline of. this shank is illustrated in. dotted lines. in Fig-2; Its-inner end is formed with a curved face. 68 milled. on the same. radius as thebottom 6,9. oi asocket Hi.- (see Figs.- Zand. 4) that' is cut into the. side at the stem L5G. shank. 61- isof uniform width and thickness, and its outer end projects. beyond the periphery ofthehead HI and operates a handle 11 that can. be. held. inones hand to push the head laterally. onto the stem. 1.5-. through: the mouth of thesocket in the stem. and between the two side. edges T2 of this socket.

Access is had. to the. interior of-. the plenum chamber through. a threaded opening. 13- that, is closed by a.removable.threaded-plug.1.4; In order to facilitate withdrawing thevalveihead. the handle. H. of. the shank may beprovided with a small eye '15. (see Fig. 4'). in which a hook can be in-- sorted. to, pull the shank 6 1; out or the socket: 1a.

In. order to. enable. the: guide openings 24: and 25 to be drilled throughtherwall's. 20. and-2t, an opening 16 is providedintheouter endwall 11 ot the extension. 3. of the. regulaton. The. presence of this opening 'IBT also enables anopeningto-be drilled. in the outer. wallof the plenum. chamber and tapped. to. form the. threaded. seat for the valve nipple. 8.. After a. threaded plug [8. that closes. this opening, 16 has been. removed; the

- nipple 8 can. be removedif that. ever becomes necessary. The flange of this ni'ppl'e preferably seats against. the usual. gasket. 19).

lnorder to hold the. valve. head I], yieldingly in its socket, the inner end'. of the shank isv provided" with a liore Bil" inv the ends of which two balls 81 are placed. After the balls 81" are put in position, the edges 82 of' the, mouths of thisboreare p'eenedover'toretainthe balls while permitting them to proi'ect' out considerably'from the upper and lower facesof the shank. When the shank is pushed all the way into position, these balls; snap up; into sm'all circular sockets 83: that are-drilled: in the": upper andlower: sides of the-socket lid. Theseballs operate as yield.- ing latches, and will move: inwardly against the force of their common spring: Edi if.- the: shank. is forciblypulled out ofthe: socket.

The modev or operationof thisregulator is-substant'i'all'y as follows: If. a consumer opens up a greater number of'bur-ners. than the regulator is supplying;,then the pressure in the antechamber I9 will decrease; will: cause a flow of fluid from the pressure chamber f2 through the communicating port 23- into" the antechambe'r, whereupon the diaphragm will be pushed further down by the air pressure in the air chamber 3], andiby the. spring 38. This 'wil'l swing the pivot; pin 62.- ofi: the: link; 63 downwardly in its arc of movement, which will shiftithe valve stem I5 and the valve head H away from the inlet orifice I. This of course givesan increased effective area of flow for the gas coming through the valve port I, which gas will flow into the plenum chamber I0, out through the outlet orifice l6 directly toward the delivery outlet I1. The passage of this current of gas under increased pressure through the end of the antechamber [9, has a certain amount of eductive action tending to reduce the pressure in the antechamber, and this augments the flow of gas under pressure from the pressure chamber 22. In'other words, there is a. kind of regenerative action due to the fact that the outlet orifice [6 from the plenum chamber is in line with the delivery outlet [1.

It will be evident that although I have described my plenum chamber employed in connection with a fluid regulator of a specific type, it should be understood that this plenum chamber can be employed with regulators having any automatic pressure control means with which it can function to control the degree of opening of the valve. The presence of the plenum chamber gives the capacity of the regulator to operate under a great range of inlet pressures; and one of the advantages of the plenum chamber is that it eliminates undesirable effects in the regulator, which might be developed by variations in the inlet pressure. In other words, the plenum chamber steadies the operation of the instrument under relatively high pressures by tending to maintain a substantially constant pressure in the plenum chamber. This, of course, results in giving a relatively steady educting effect of the fluid as it flows through the orifice IE to the outlet l I. If the consumer supplied through the regulator, opens up additional burners for the fluid, the pressure in the pressure chamber 22 will immediately become reduced, and this reduction in pressure will also occur in the space between the orifice l6 and the outlet I I, which will increase the velocity of flow of the fluid from the plenum chamber. This increased velocity of flow from the plenum chamber will increase the eduction effect upon pressure chamber 22. This gives a quick response of the regulator to changes and requirements of the consumer. If, on the other hand, the consumer shuts oiT some of the burners that have been in use, an opposite character of eduction effect upon the pressure chamber 22 will occur.

In connection with Fig. 2, it should be understood that this view shows the diaphragm not in a working position, but in a position such as it would assume when there is no pressure in the pressure chamber 22. In practical operation, when pressure exists in this pressure chamber 22, the diaphragm 26 would lie in a position more elevated than that in which it is shown, and in a position in which the links 55 would have their longitudinal aXes in a substantially vertical position. It is important that the links 55 should be in a substantially vertical position when the diaphragm is at its normal level, because there is then no substantial horizontal component of the thrust of the links that could tend to shift the diaphragm laterally, and so that the lower end of the spring would be way out of line with the upper end.

Of course in adapting this regulator to operate at different pressures, it is necessary to adjust the plug 42 up or down in the interior of the threaded neck 40..

Many other embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fluid pressure regulator, the combina-' tion of a casing having a pressure chamber therein, a pressure-responsive member having an area exposed to the pressure of said pressure chamber, said casing having a plenum chamber with an inlet for the said fluid, and having a wall surrounding and substantially confining the fluid admitted into the plenum chamber, a movable closure co-operating with said inlet to regulate the effective area of flow for the fluid in flowing from said inlet to said plenum chamber, said casing having a delivery outlet therefrom for the fluid, and also having an outlet orifice for conducting fluid from the plenum chamber to the delivery outlet, an antechamber within the casing maintaining communication from said pressure chamber to said delivery outlet, means co-operating with said pressure responsive member for resisting its outward movement under the action of an increase of pressure in said pressure chamber, and means connecting the said pressureresponsive member to said movable closure oper ating to move the closure toward or from the said outlet responsively to changes in pressure Occurring in said pressure chamber; means for baffling flow of the fluid from the plenum chamber inlet past said movable closure to said outlet orifice of the plenum chamber; all of said parts co-operating to develop and maintain a substantially static pressure in said plenum chamber when an increased amount of fluid is being required by the consumer and being drawn off through said delivery outlet.

2. A fluid pressure regulator according to claim 1, in which the said baflle means is carried on said movable closure and located between the said inlet orifice and the said outlet orifice for preventing channeling of fluid from said inlet orifice to said outlet orifice, thereby augmenting the plenum chamber eiiect.

3. In a fluid pressure regulator, the combination of a casing having a pressure chamber therein, a pressure-actuated member having an area exposed to the pressure of said pressure chamber, said casing having a walled plenum chamber therein with an inlet for the said fluid, a movable closure to regulate the effective area of flow for the fluid passing into said chamber from said inlet, said casin having a delivery outlet therefrom for the fluid, and also having an outlet orifice through the wall of said chamber for conducting fluid from the chamber to flow through the delivery outlet, means for efiecting communication from said pressure chamber to said delivery outlet, means associated with the plenum chamber for bailling flow of the fluid therefrom, operating to build up and maintain pressure in the same when the fluid is flowing through the same and means connecting the said pressure-controlled member to said movable closure to move the same in response to changes of position of said pressure-controlled member.

4. A fluid pressure regulator according to claim 1, in which the said outlet orifice is substantially in line with the delivery outlet, and the said antechamber has an extension across which the fluid flows in passing from the outlet orifice to the delivery outlet.

5. A fluid pressure regulator accordin to claim 1, including a valve seat upon which the said inletinto the plenum chamber emerges, and

in which the said movable closure is in the form of a valve head adapted to move toward or from said seat in regulating the efiective area of flow from said inlet, the said bafiie being located on the said valve-head and projecting from the valve head toward the valve seat, and located so that it lies between the said inlet and the said outlet orifice for baffling direct flow between the said inlet and the said outlet orifice.

ERICH SCHUSTER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Terry Nov. 18, 1924 Niesemann July '7, 1942 Bowen Nov. 17, 1942 McKinley Dec. 22, 1942 

